by Ian Marshall, Editor
Three groups in the opening stage of proceedings in the junior boys’ team competition, the leading outfits all secured first places.
Selecting from Shi Kexun, Josh Chua Shao Han, Lim Dao Yi and Pang Yew En Koen, Singapore, the top seeds, enjoyed a day without troubles. It was no different for the second seeded outfit formed by Iran’s Amin Ahmadian and Japan’s Tomoya Kimura, who lined up alongside Yanapong Panagitgun and Parapat Thanmathikom. Similarly, the third seeds, the Chinese Taipei combination of Tai Ming-Wei, Li Hsin-Yu and Huang Yan-Cheng ended the day as predicted at the head of their group.
No great moments of drama; it was the same in the junior girls’ team competition where there were also three groups in the initial phase. The top seeded Japanese trio comprising Haruna Ojio, Kaho Akae and Sakura Yokoi claimed first place in style, likewise the second seeded Chinese Taipei team of Chien Tung-Chuan, Yu Hsiu-Ting and Cai Fong-En progressed in a most impressive manner.
However, for the third seeds, Hong Kong’s Lee Ka Yee, Chau Wing Sze and Fung Wai Chu, life was more testing on their journey to first place. They needed the full five matches to beat the Indian selection of Swastika Ghosh, Arusha Kutumbale and Manushree Patil. Mainstay of the success was Lee Ka Yee, she accounted for both Swastika Ghosh (14-12, 5-11, 11-5, 11-5) and Anusha Kutumbale (11-6, 11-4, 12-10).
Meanwhile, in the cadet boys’ team competition, Iran’s Navid Shams and Hong Kong’s Yu Nok justified their top seeded position to end the day in first place, a situation that applied also to the latter’s colleagues, the second seeded pairing of Yiu Kwan To and Baldwin Chan Ho Wah.
Convincing performances, for the third seeds, the Indian outfit formed by Payas Jain, Vishwa Deenadayalan and Aadarsh Om Chhetri, reserving first place proved a most exacting experience. A 3-2 result was the outcome in opposition to Singapore’s Izaac Quek Yong and Daniel Ng. The player to cause the Indian outfit problems was Izaac Quek Yong; he beat both Aadarsh Om Chhetri (11-5, 9-11, 11-7, 13-11) and Payas Jain (11-9, 11-6, 11-2).
A close call for the third seeds, for the next on the list in an event where there were four groups in the initial phase, it was defeat. Japan’s Sora Matsushima and Tamito Watanabe endured a 3-2 reverse at the hands of Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chia-Chuan and Ka Cheng-Jui. Notably Sora Matsushima beat both Chuang Chia-Chuan (11-6, 11-8, 11-7) and Ka Cheng-Jui (11-9, 7-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7) but that was the sum total of Japanese success.
Defeat for the fourth seeds, in the cadet girls’ team event, it was the reverse scenario; the top three seeds all experienced losses, the fourth seeds remained unbeaten.
Hong Kong’s Chelsea Chan Shiu Lam and Yenn Ho Ching, the top seeds, suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Korea Republic’s Lee Yeohui and Kim Nayeong. Next in line the India combination formed by Anargya Manjunath, Suhana Saini and Yashini Deepak Ghorpade experienced a 3-1 defeat in a reversal of fortunes for the host association; Kong Tsz Lam, Ma Yat Sum and Chow Ka Ching secured victory. Mainstay of the success was Ma Yat Sum; she defeated both Suhana Saini (11-2, 11-4, 11-5) and Anargya Manjunath (13-11, 9-11, 11-2, 11-9).
A four match reverse for the second seeds, it was a rather closer disappointment for the third seeds; Chinese Taipei’s Tsai Yun-En and Chu Yi-Ching experienced a 3-2 loss when confronting Japan’s Sachi Aoki and Miwa Harimoto. Tsai Yun-En accounted for both Sachi Aoki and Miwa Harimoto but that was the sum total of Chinese Taipei success.
Differing experiences for Hong Kong; however, the overall balance was in their favour; Phoebe Hui Wai and Wong Hoi Ting, the fourth seeds, ended the day in first position in their group.
All team events conclude on Thursday 8th August.
